The Occupier

Whats dwelling in your mind. If negative thoughts exist, they can cause you to take on an unknown occupier. This dweller, if not kept in check, can ruin your life. My dad used to call it a state of defeatism. It is a state of mind that causes one to feel a sense of hopelessness. A case where its occupation takes up little space at first, then takes on your whole existence. The person that allows this attitude to dominate its life, usually based on past experience, will invite fear and destruction, disallowing happiness. My mom used to call it carrying the world on your shoulders.  How does that work for you? Can your past dictate your future? Only if you allow it to. So why do you? Accept change..Be the change. Decide to change.. Sometimes our problems stem from our attitude. The attitude that says "I can't--meaning I won't."  Most of the time we dig our own rut in life. Simplify, start with basics. Do we really need all we say we do? Maybe it's time to focus elsewhere, beside yourself. Sometimes people crash in order to pick up the pieces. New beginnings are good--life is good. Choose not to be consumed by things, nor laid down by cares. Live life one day at a time--it is a gift. Just ask the dying. What are you allowing to steal your joy?

No-one wants to be around people who chose to be anything but joyful. We all have our share of problems. If you you don't unload, the "occupier" will take over until there will be no room for anything or anyone else in your life. You do know that you can choose to be happy. Sometimes it takes a little help. Luckily, I have amazing friends who are faith-filled and who display amazing courage, and who, despite all their problems, find it in their heart to love and care for others.

Let us make room for happy. Decide to turn a new leaf, putting into your existence happy thoughts and positive actions. Eventually, there will be no room for the negative occupier--throw the bum out.

We have a Community Meal, which is church sponsored, where people gather joyfully to share in the company of others, share a meal and chit-chat a bit. Sometimes we are very aware of the plight of others. Happy seems to come to all who attend, and it is contagious, even if it is for a short time, we leave our cares outside. There can be made a time for more pressing issues, but not at the dinner table.

People are already looking forward to the wonderful Thanksgiving meal that will soon be upon us. Thankful is a good state of mind. We should clothe ourselves in it. Sharing is a good thing..It is a friendly and happy time.

We have a wonderful Parish Church where people truly love one-another. It is where hymns and  words of wisdom permeate us, such as: "Let us lay aside all earthly cares." This is a good place to begin... Sunday worship, where we learn that we are not alone,  never have been, nor, will we ever be.

I'm too Busy!

Today I read about the mounting concern for Ebola and its consequence. We are to be as prepared as possible. This includes prayer, fasting and almsgiving. If you've forgotten God in your bussiness, time to begin this thought process. Many people today are so busy that they have forgotten all about the first commandment of God. Putting Him first in our lives, the lives that He gives us now and forever. In fact, some actually make themselves so busy that there is no time to worship, or even sit and listen to God, in our stillness. Extra events come before a personal relationship with our maker. Time on this earth is shorter than you think. Take time to think about that.

Yesterday, I wrote about the Lord's Prayer, which  (Jesus) gave to us. It can be found in your bible. I hope parents teach their children to recite it often. There is another prayer that children learn from their parents. It goes like this:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

This prayer is easy to remember and it is one that should be said before children go to bed. One night, my sister Ruth, who used to say this prayer with me when we were children, kneeling by our bedside, went to bed and never woke up. She did not live to a ripe old age.

Last night I had a dream about her. She was pregnant sitting in a swimming pool of water. I remember that she was happy, and then, I saw that I was pregnant too. Dreaming about water is always a good sign for me.

Those who knew my sister Ruth, will recall how beautiful a person she was in many ways and how much she loved her four children, and her grandchildren.

Every week I pray for her soul during our church worship service. Prayer is essential to our lives. We need to tell our creator how grateful we are for our lives and those whom He has given us to love. Memory Eternal Ruth.

Deliver Us from Evil

My parents taught me to pray when I was just a little girl. Dutifully I would recite the words with difficulty, somethings stick with you. The Lord's Prayer has. There was no "what does that mean?" then. Now, there is no need to explain. Jesus gave us this perfect prayer and some may not believe in Him, but they certainly know now what evil is to some extent. The words are specific. "Deliver us from evil." That requires belief in a God that will, because of His love for us, provide protection.

Evil comes to us in many forms. What can eradicate those who choose to destroy others? Simply action. First, understand that we are not alone, God is with us, always. He will not leave us nor forsake us. Second, know that Love is stronger than Hate and it always wins in the end. Third, God tells us in His Word to "Be Not Afraid."

I sometimes recall a little decoration that I saw on the desk of the kids grandparents as they were growing up. Three monkeys said with their action over their ears, eyes and mouth, "see no evil, hear no evil, and say no evil." There are times when you must act in defense of the innocent, but wisely, not to provoke a more serious and growing conflict. Would it not be better if we were to grow love and not hate? Evil must be contained at all cost, there just is no other way.

It seems evil will always be with us, in many forms. So here's the challenge for today...Double your acts of kindness and show others you care. There are many who are needy in many ways. We can hold doors for others--it's okay to be civil and polite. Begin everything with a prayer, He is watching. Evil, like a virus, can and will be defeated.

We are a society of civilized people who have experienced a better way of life, if we so choose. Roll up your sleeves there is work to do, look around and stop complaining. We need ACTION!

As for those who simply decide not to choose love, nothing good will await them period. Like the movie 4th of July, they live to destroy us, and this action must be stopped. Can they change, maybe. Can we forgive, yes we can. That is what it is all about, love not hate. It seems by their action, they have decided their fate. You are what you choose to be. Your choice.

Since the beginning of time we see that the brothers Cain and Able did not get along, but that never changed the fact that they, like we are, brothers after all. What kind of world do we want to live in? One full of hate or one full of Love? The message is clear, "love one another." We must stop the spread of hatred and that is not an easy task. It will take unity and endless sacrifice. So what else is new? It is the message confronting us now, one that is not new to us, and it does not need defining--do or die.

 Lord, deliver us from evil, Amen.